Sneaky Nutrition for Kids

Organ meats — also known as offal — could be classified as nature's superfoods. They are the most beneficial, nutrient dense meats you can find. This is why parents from every generation have tried to "hide" or "sneak" organ meats into their children's food. If you go back to the days when our ancestors were hunter-gatherers, you'll see the same thing. Our ancestors knew that the organ meats were the most valuable part of the animal. In modern America, organ meats are sometimes forgotten. The flavor of organ meats are sometimes stronger than regular retail friendly cuts and it's just too much for some people. Children can be even more sensitive to this. Parents who realize the importance of these meats for building strong bodies and healthy minds will develop strategies to overcome these challenges. Not many children will tie into liver and onions, beef tongue, kidneys or heart, but we have some ideas to pass along that might help all of us enjoy more organ meats.

Tip #1: Get creative with your recipes. Any recipe with ground beef can be enhanced with organ meats. Casseroles, meat sauces, soups, chili, tacos, burritos, Sloppy Joes, meatloaf, pizza, lasagna, meat pies, burgers, rice or bean bowls, meatballs, skillet meals, nachos, etc. These are all entrees that can include organ meats in the ground beef. US Wellness Meats offers a ground beef blend perfect for this very thing. Our 75% Lean Ground Beef with Heart, Kidney, and Liver has become one of our best sellers. If it's still too much for picky eaters, add more ground beef to the mix. You could also include some organ meat sausage like Liverwurst or Braunschweiger in with the ground beef. Both are delicious by themselves but can also be crumbled into your recipe.

Tip #2: Pulled Beef is really good on sandwiches, tacos and burritos and kids usually love these meals. Well, prepare yourself to be amazed. Grass-fed Beef Tongue is rich in B-vitamins, choline, iron, and zinc as well as protein, and numerous vitamins and minerals. It also makes an excellent alternative for pulled beef.

Tip #3: Make it fun! Give your recipe a fun name. Maybe it's not necessary to include the words "organ meats", "liver", "heart", "kidney", or "tongue" in the description. At least not until they've decided they love it. There are numerous options here. Check out our Discover Wellness Blog for a whole host of delicious and sneaky recipes. Some foods are just plain fun. Kids love meatballs. It's axiomatic. Add meatballs to any dish and you've upped the fun factor by a 100%. Combine with Tip #1 above for a nutrient dense, fun dish. You can make Meatball Soup, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Meatball Pizza, Monster Meatballs, or Meatball Pie.

All the Best,  Team USWM